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Kiyuko followed her mother's footsteps, a shrewd courtier, and from a young age she excelled in all the womanly arts, easily wrapping the other samurai children around her. Her aprents decided to send her to the Bayushi Courtier school, where she learned how to subtly control and manipulate the people around her. [3]

Following Winter Court in 1168, Kiyuko was installed as the Governor of the newly founded village of Kudo Mura[5] through the workings of her mother, Toku Inao. After her retirement, Inao also joined her daughter in the village as an advisor to help her daughter through the next few years of diplomacy and intrigues that Kudo was sure to see. Kasuga Taigen, the Voice of the Alliance, was not especially happy with Kiyuko's appointment as governor. [6]

In 1170 the Lion Clan occupied Kudo Mura claiming they had to keep the peace between the Minor Clans, and Kiyuko accepted the occupation with patience, using the Lion funds to make the city grow. Another issue was Taigen, who expected to marry her with a Tortoise. [7]